Mayweather rematch on
The much-anticipated rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is most definitely on the cards.
A potential blockbuster fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather moved a step closer to fruition, with the Filipino icon confirming he has signed with Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
Eight-weight world champion Pacquiao said he would close out his storied career by facing “top PBC fighters”, while announcing late on Monday the tie-up with influential Mayweather adviser Haymon's organisation.
“My team will work closely with Al Haymon for the remainder of my career to deliver the most anticipated fights with the top PBC fighters,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
“Those are the fights the fans want to see and the ones I want to have to close out my career.”
Pacquiao said last week that he was “90%” sure a bout with former four-division world champion Adrien Broner would happen in January, possibly in Las Vegas.
“Pacquiao's first defence of the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight world title will kick off the new partnership,” Haymon's PBC said in a statement without giving further details.
“The new alliance will have team Pacquiao and Haymon work together to navigate the remainder of his illustrious career.”
The deal could pave the way for a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch of the 2015 mega fight, which generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys earning US$600 million and ended with the American winning on points.
Unbeaten Mayweather, who hasn't fought since knocking out mixed martial artist Conor McGregor last year, said in September he would come out of retirement to face Pacquiao later this year.
The American, 41, has since hinted at taking a warm-up fight first, talking on social media of a “huge boxing event” in Tokyo.
He said last week he would be willing to accept a challenge to fight against McGregor's MMA conqueror Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The deal with Haymon represents a new chapter for the 39-year-old Pacquiao, who has been promoted for the majority of his 20-year professional career by Bob Arum's Top Rank organisation.
“I wish him the best of luck, a tremendous warrior, and whatever he's doing in the future, he deserves,” Arum said of Pacquiao on Fighthub TV in Las Vegas at the weekend.
Pacquiao pumped new life into his storied career in July when he delivered his first knockout in nine years against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina.
Ahead of the fight against big-punching Matthysse, Pacquiao said he considered himself the “underdog”, but he rolled back the years to register a 60th win and take the Argentine's WBA welterweight belt.
NAMPA/AFP
Eight-weight world champion Pacquiao said he would close out his storied career by facing “top PBC fighters”, while announcing late on Monday the tie-up with influential Mayweather adviser Haymon's organisation.
“My team will work closely with Al Haymon for the remainder of my career to deliver the most anticipated fights with the top PBC fighters,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
“Those are the fights the fans want to see and the ones I want to have to close out my career.”
Pacquiao said last week that he was “90%” sure a bout with former four-division world champion Adrien Broner would happen in January, possibly in Las Vegas.
“Pacquiao's first defence of the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight world title will kick off the new partnership,” Haymon's PBC said in a statement without giving further details.
“The new alliance will have team Pacquiao and Haymon work together to navigate the remainder of his illustrious career.”
The deal could pave the way for a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch of the 2015 mega fight, which generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys earning US$600 million and ended with the American winning on points.
Unbeaten Mayweather, who hasn't fought since knocking out mixed martial artist Conor McGregor last year, said in September he would come out of retirement to face Pacquiao later this year.
The American, 41, has since hinted at taking a warm-up fight first, talking on social media of a “huge boxing event” in Tokyo.
He said last week he would be willing to accept a challenge to fight against McGregor's MMA conqueror Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The deal with Haymon represents a new chapter for the 39-year-old Pacquiao, who has been promoted for the majority of his 20-year professional career by Bob Arum's Top Rank organisation.
“I wish him the best of luck, a tremendous warrior, and whatever he's doing in the future, he deserves,” Arum said of Pacquiao on Fighthub TV in Las Vegas at the weekend.
Pacquiao pumped new life into his storied career in July when he delivered his first knockout in nine years against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina.
Ahead of the fight against big-punching Matthysse, Pacquiao said he considered himself the “underdog”, but he rolled back the years to register a 60th win and take the Argentine's WBA welterweight belt.
NAMPA/AFP
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article